Rick Cole '78 is the City Manager of Santa Monica, former Mayor of Pasadena
RickÌýColeÌýis one of the most progressive and outspoken leaders in Southern California on the major challenges facing cities: reducing inequality, building housing, fighting climate change, ending homelessness and promoting environmental sustainability. ÌýThe current City Manager of Santa Monica is an Â鶹ƵµÀ graduate who’s served as Mayor of Pasadena and City Manager in Ventura and Azusa.Ìý Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti also chose him to be Deputy Mayor for Budget and Innovation where he tackled the fiscal stresses of the nation’s second largest city with a $7 billion budget.
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The discussionÌýwith Mr. Cole centeredÌýon whether cities can thrive in a time of sweeping global economic and technological changes and if people of color and the poor share in the rebirth of inner-city neighborhoods. ÌýHe offered insights on theÌýfuture of cities and urban democracy.